Rubik’s Speed Cube

The History of the Rubik’s Cube

The Rubik’s Cube has been tantalising and enchanting people for over 40 years. It was created in 1974 and is the world’s best-selling toy ever!

The creation of The Rubik’s Cube…

Ernõ Rubik, a professor from Budapest In Hungary, wanted to help his students understand three-dimensional problems. His solution? The Rubik’s Cube!

His solid cube did things that the world hadn't seen before. It twisted and turned yet it didn’t break. Adding 54 colourful stickers to the six sides gave this amazing puzzle its iconic look. When Ernõ Rubik built his first Cube, it took him over a month to solve it.

At that time, he didn’t know that his “Magic Cube” – “Buvos Kocka” in Hungarian - would take the world by storm.

Worldwide recognition…

The “Magic Cube” became more and more popular in Hungary during the late 1970s. Ernõ Rubik realised the potential of his invention. But – in communist Hungary in the 1970s, imports and exports were tightly controlled. The answer? Toy fairs!

Its global impact began in 1980 at toy fairs and conferences in London, New York, Paris and Nuremberg. Enthusiastic mathematicians gave the “Magic Cube” its first global stage. Toy specialist Tom Kremer was at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 1979. He saw the power and potential of the Cube and wanted to sell it to the rest of the world.

Tom Kremer

Tom Kremer’s passion and belief in the Cube convinced the Ideal Toy Company to distribute the “Magic Cube”.

They wanted one important change… a new name! The Rubik’s Cube’s global launch was in 1980. The newer Cubes were half the weight of the earlier models. Solve times became much faster!

Between 1980 and 1982 an estimated 100 million cubes were sold worldwide. Global domination had begun!

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Scrambled

When you look at a scrambled Cube, you know what you need to do. But – without instruction, it’s almost impossible to solve!

(Hint: you can use our Solve It guides.) Once you’ve solved The Rubik’s Cube, your next challenge awaits… speedcubing! To achieve your fastest solve time, take a look at our new Rubik’s Speed Cube – it’s the ultimate speed cube.

There’s a large community of cubers that share tips and gather for events. Get involved!